In order to have
what you've never had in your life, you must be willing to do what you've
never done. - Valorie Burton

What's new at Comp-U-Talk?

If you are a coosnet customer, then you should have
heard about some improvements that are happening here. First, we are test
driving a Spam Filtering Gateway. So far it is getting good reviews but we
are concerned that it is not large enough to meet our anticipated growth. I
am negotiating the test drive of a similar unit with more capacity. Second,
we are securing the outgoing mail server. If you are using an email address
that ends with @coosnet.com, you should be following the directions found at
www.coosnet.com to reconfigure your email
client to access the secure server. Don't let the directions intimidate
you, but do plan to take 20-30 minutes before the 15th of September to
change your configuration. If you get stuck, give us a call.

If you would like to help us pay for the above
improvements, then please consider purchasing your next pc locally. To help
decide if its time to purchase a new PC, I have unabashedly pilfered a list
from Microsoft. (Original can be found at Microsoft's
Website). I used theirs because my top five reasons to buy a new computer
at Comp-U-Talk goes something like this: 5.) My critters need to eat, 4.) My
employees need to eat, 3.)My children need to eat, 2.) My spouse needs to
eat. And the most important: 1.) I need to eat! Some might think that I'm
obsessed with eating. Anyway, here is the Microsoft Version of when to
consider purchasing a new computer:

5 Ways You Can Tell That It's Time for a New PC

Deciding when to replace your office PCs with new
ones is usually a difficult decision. You want to control your operating
expenses, but at the same time, want your business to benefit from reliable,
high-performing machines that can run the latest programs.

If you are unsure about what to do, here are five
things that indicate it is probably time for a new computer. And you'll find
your work worth the effort. A well thought-out technology plan can help
you:

Your PC is four years old. If you cannot afford to have your PC
break down or sit in the repair shop for a week, budget to replace your pc
every three or four years. This replacement schedule does not guarantee
that you never have a problem, but it could protect you from experiencing
major component failures. Replacing your PC every four years also provides
an opportunity to easily upgrade to improved software - such as Windows
Vista or Office 2007 - because PC makers will preload the programs on your
new machine. And if you are buying five or more new PCs and installing new
software, you may also be eligible to receive a discount on the software.

Your PC is slowing down. Many things can cause a computer to run
slowly, which can erode productivity over time. By removing unnecessary
programs that load at startup, deleting old files from your hard disk,
scanning for viruses and spyware, and tweaking other operating system settings,
you might improve your computer's performance to a level you can live with.
However, it may also be the case that the programs you now run simply push
the limits of the processing capabilities of your system. Insufficient
memory, slow hard drive speeds and an ancient CPU may prevent your system
from keeping up with the demands you place on it, particularly when you use
multiple applications at the same time. If you have the time and skills,
you could upgrade some of these components. But if you compare the overall
cost of upgrading to what a new machine might cost, investing in a new PC is
often the smarter option.

Your PC makes unusual noises. Computers typically make some
noise. Cooling fans, CD-ROM drives and hard drives can all make a low hum
or a soft whirring when they operate. These sounds are not a cause for
concern. If you start to hear clicking noises, loud humming noises or
thumping noises, your hard drive is likely going bad. Back up your data and
consider whether you want to replace the hard drive, or, if other things are
not working well, the entire computer.

You cannot run the software you want. New software programs
demand more from computers and an older computer may not meet the optimal
hardware requirements. For instance, if security is a top priority in your
organization, you may want to run the Windows Vista operating system, which
includes enhanced security among its many impressive features. However,
Windows Vista requires more memory and a faster processor than previous
versions of Windows. To help you figure out if your current computer can
run Windows Vista, Microsoft also provides an online service that evaluates
your PC system to see if it meets its system requirements.

Your business is growing and prices are cheap. This reason does
not apply to a replacement decision. It is more of a buying strategy. If
you expect to add new employees in the near future because your business is
expanding, then you might purchase PCs in advance if prices are especially
good and you have the cash or credit available.

P.S. Purchasing a new computer with Vista or Office 2007
from a local PC Builder makes you eligible for a free gift from Microsoft.
Check out www.localpcbuilder.com
for details.